Graduate Degree Programs
Doctor of Philosophy
PhD Program
Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) is offered in Animal Science. Several areas of concentration are offered within the Animal Science Field of Study including: Animal Genetics and Genomics, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Animal Physiology, Animal Nutrition, Meat Science, and Food Microbiology and Safety. The PhD degree requires demonstrated capabilities for conducting independent research plus related scholarly attributes. All graduate students receiving assistantship support are required to assist with the teaching of one (1) course per year of enrollment as part of their professional development.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Coursework | Minimum 30 credits beyond the bachelor's degree, or a minimum of 15 credits beyond a master's degree in the same or a closely related field |
| Required Courses |
|
| Dissertation Research Credits | Minimum 15 credits of GRAD 6950 or GRAD 6960 |
| Advisory Committee | Major advisor and at least two associate advisors |
| General Examination | Successful completion of the General Examination |
| Dissertation Proposal | Written dissertation proposal and successful proposal defense |
| Dissertation | Complete and submit a doctoral dissertation |
| Final Examination | Public dissertation defense |
Notes
- ANSC 5001 and ANSC 5002 may be taken out of sequence.
- ANSC 5002 is a prerequisite for ANSC 5694. Concurrent enrollment is not recommended.
- Students transferring from the MS program to the PhD program are not required to retake the required courses.
- Course substitutions for ANSC 5601 and SPSS 5150 require prior approval from the Department Head and the Graduate Committee.
- For Graduate School policies and deadlines (e.g., Plan of Study, committee formation, General Examination, dissertation proposal, graduation requirements, and academic regulations), refer to the UConn Graduate School Academic Regulations: https://catalog.uconn.edu/graduate/academic-regulations/
Application Process
If you are considering applying to the Animal Science MS or PhD programs, please visit the links below for detailed instructions. Our graduate programs depend heavily on the appropriate linkage of student and faculty interests. This also applies to the availability of assistantship support (in essence, stipend and tuition remission). There is no separate application for assistantships. The department strongly encourages that applicants visit ANSC faculty bio and research pages and identify a faculty advisor(s) based on the advisor’s research area. Please contact your preferred advisor(s) to discuss the possibility of research prior to applying to be sure they are currently accepting graduate students and if assistantship support is potentially available. Applications that fail to indicate a preferred advisor will not be reviewed. Information regarding English Proficiency and other University requirements and application policies can be found at the Graduate School website by following the link below. Applicants are not required to take or submit test scores for the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).
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- Applying to the ANSC Grad Program Workflow
- List of Requirements- Graduate School & Department of Animal Science
- Graduate Catalog
- Forms - Prospective & Current Graduate Students
- ANSC Faculty Bio and Research Interests
- Financial Aid
- International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
- International Applicant FAQs
- ANSC Facilities
Application Review Process
Applications for graduate studies are submitted online through the University of Connecticut Graduate School. Students normally matriculate beginning with the Fall semester, but occasionally, students begin at the start of the Spring semester. The Department of Animal Science reviews complete applications on a rolling basis.
Application Submission Deadlines
The Application Submission Deadline is the last day you are able to submit your application for consideration for the program and term for which you are applying. You will not be able to submit an application after these dates for the term to which you are applying. All applications should contain ALL required information (including completed recommendations) by the submission deadline date. Deadlines for fall and spring semesters pertain to both international and domestic students. It is recommended that applications be submitted prior to the submission deadline date to allow time for your recommendations to be submitted and the Department of Animal Science Graduate Committee to process their recommendation. If you miss the application submission deadline for the term to which you're applying, you may change the term for which you are applying or contact the department at animalscience@uconn.edu to close out your application. Applicants can contact the Animal Science Graduate Studies Committee Chair, Dr. Mary Anne Amalaradjou with any questions.
Applicants Requiring a Student Visa
Applicants who require an F1 visa are encouraged to apply by the preferred deadline indicated below. The primary reason for submitting an early application is that we anticipate the policies and procedures surrounding issuance of student visas will continue to be strict and time-consuming. Please familiarize yourself with parameters regarding deadline dates and terms applicable to students requiring F1.
Preferred application submission date is January 1.
Application submission deadline is June 1 (absolute deadline for term; applications for this term will not be accepted after this date).
Preferred application submission date is October 1.
Application submission deadline is November 1 (absolute deadline for term; applications for this term will not be accepted after this date).
Enrollment Deadline
When you are offered admission to the program, you are given an Enrollment Deadline that is stated in your admission letter. This is the last day you will be able to accept enrollment for entry to the program to which you are applying for that term. If you wish to defer your admission to a subsequent semester, email the department at animalscience@uconn.edu.